1Maeve gave the grand tour of the hide away place, Saoirse pointing out new additions made after Maeve left so many years ago. They showed the men where they were to stay. Maeve would stay with Saoirse as she used to. The men's living quarters was a medium sized, one-room, thatch-like hut with a smoke hole in the roof. It was hidden in a thick of wood and partially underground.

"You'll be sharing it with Finlay," Saoirse informed the men. She climbed down the stairs and opened the door. She was met with a dagger and a barely dressed man with rusty shoulder-length hair and stormy gray eyes. "Finlay!" Saoirse jumped. "Don't do that for goddess sake!"

"I didn't know you were coming. Why don't you try knocking next time?" he said in an irked voice putting his dagger down. Sinbad took note that these people jumpy and cautious.

"I never do," she replied. Maeve tried not to burst into laughter. Realizing what she said she blushed, as did he, and mumbled an apology.

"Welcome," Finlay greeted his new roommates as they were introduced. "I just got back from the springs," he explained his bareness. They looked at him, now wearing only a kilt. "You can get cleaned up before supper if it'd please you. I have spare clothes you can borrow."

"NO!" the tree men practically yelled while Rongar's eyes grew wide and he shook his head viciously. All four terrified of the through of wearing a skirt. (Just imagine it!)

"No thanks," Sinbad corrected. "Perhaps later." Later as in never!

After the girls stopped laughing at the men's reply, Saoirse explained, "Finlay is from Scott's Land, across the waters," she pointed South. "He came here a few month back."

Maeve smiled at all the men, "We'll let you get settled. Nice to meet you, Finlay."

"The same."

"So…" Maeve said trying to start up conversation with Saoirse on the way to their quarters. "You and Finlay."

Saoirse smiled, "You and Captain Sinbad, huh?" They came to a river and Maeve pushed a grounded raft onto the water and stepped on.

"Hardly!" Maeve replied.

"Oh, come on! A blind cat could see it!"

"Hey! Do you want to swim there?" Maeve said in a threatening voice. Saoirse considered then stepped onto the raft. Maeve picked up the poll and started pushing the raft across the river to a cliff rising above the water.
"So are you going to make the first move?"

"Saoirse…" Maeve voiced her warning.

"Maybe we could double." She was having fun teasing her friend. She used to tease about someone else… "You are so far in Maeve."

"So are you." Maeve smiled grimly taking the poll from the water and smacking it against the back of Saoirse's knees causing her to tumble off the raft. Maeve started to lose her balance but stuck the poll through the water into the mud at the bottom of the river to steady herself. "Ah, I miss doing that," she sighed right before Saoirse surfaced and spit water she got in her mouth onto Maeve's boots.

"Hey, those are my only pair!"

"Well good! You can hunt for your new shoes when you go to find a replacement for my outfit!" She yelled tipping the raft over. Maeve surfaced and spit out some water.

"You're really going to get it now!" Maeve yelled and began to splash her friend.

A shadow in the bushes watched on as the two friends engaged in a water war.